Let’s face it, our economy may be too weak to go it alone in Europe

THE EU Council has given its response to the Irish no vote in last June’s referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. We have been so engrossed in the Irish perspective of how our negative vote should be interpreted that we have not stopped to listen.

The Irish electorate must absorb what the rest of Europe, through their governments and prime ministers, have concluded.

The polite, diplomatic deference shown for our democratic process has been maintained. Beneath this velvet glove is concealed a solid fist. While they respect our sovereignty and right to self-determination, this has not extended to allowing one of the smallest and most peripheral states to dictate to the rest of Europe how EU procedures should be reformed.